by Milcarsky's Staff | Mar 26, 2021 | How To's
Hardwood flooring is one of the more popular flooring options for many homeowners. It usually looks much nicer than carpet but typically isn’t nearly as expensive as higher-end tile or stone floors. That doesn’t mean it’s cheap though, especially if you opt for nicer, higher quality woods. For the sake of both getting the most out of it and the appearance of your floor, it’s important to understand how to properly maintain hardwood flooring and protect it from damage.
Cleaning Hardwood Floors
The first thing you need to understand about hardwood floors is how to clean them properly. If you don’t, you’ll decrease the amount of time your floor lasts and could dramatically speed up how quickly it becomes damaged. On the other hand, if you do it right, you’ll be able to extend the life of your floor and keep it looking beautiful. It’s best to take some time daily to clean up any dust or dirt that has accumulated throughout the day. A vacuum, broom, or dust mop can all be viable options for daily cleaning. You may find a microfiber dust mop is more effective since it can more readily pick up smaller particles that vacuums and brooms are more prone to leave behind. Do a deeper cleaning periodically as well, using products that are specifically designed for hardwood floors. Don’t use vinegar water, steam cleaning, or soap-based cleaners. This will help you avoid accidentally damaging your hardwood floor while you clean it.
Polishing the Floor
As time passes you may notice your hardwood floor loses some of that shine that it had when it was first installed, instead of becoming dull and less attractive. Polishing a hardwood floor can help even out any damage that has occurred and can restore the luster and shine. It’s important to note that polish should only be used on hardwood floors with protective surfaces. For those with a more penetrating finish, a hardwood floor wax should be used instead. Start by removing everything from the room and cleaning the floor thoroughly. Once it’s completely dry, you can start polishing it. Apply the polish to the floor in an S shape and then use a flat-surface mop to work the polish into the wood in the same direction as the grain. Smooth out any air bubbles and make sure you cover the whole floor. Organize yourself so that by the end of it you’re at an exit. Allow the floor to dry for at least an hour before allowing anyone to walk on it and at least a day before replacing everything you removed and returning to business as normal.
Prevent Scratches
One of the downsides of hardwood flooring is that it can become scratched relatively easily. Dirt being ground in, walking in heels, and pets with nails that are too long can scratch the floor. Furniture being dragged on hardwood can scratch the floor, but adding felt pads to wood furniture helps prevent damage. Covering the floor with rugs, not walking in heels, and keeping nails trimmed can help prevent scratching, as can regularly cleaning it. Opting for a no-shoe policy in your home, in general, can help prevent dirt, grime, and anything else that can be brought in on people’s shoes from being ground into your flooring. Stocking feet are generally much kinder to floors. Consider having a basket of clean socks that you can offer your guests when they come into your home so you can protect your floors. It’s also good to keep in mind that rugs on hardwood can sometimes lead to people slipping and falling, so add a rubber rug underlayment to the bottom to prevent the rugs from slipping.
Prevent Warping
Water and hardwood floors aren’t usually a happy combination. If the hardwood is exposed to too much water, it tends to warp over time. The obvious solution to warped flooring is to prevent it from happening in the first place. That means limiting the amount of water that comes in contact with it as much as possible. This is exactly why using a steam cleaner on hardwood flooring isn’t recommended, since it combines heat and water and can cause permanent damage. Using water to clean the floor, in general, is inadvisable as well. Clean up any spills immediately. Be on the watch for spots that look hazy or milky, since that can indicate water damage. Keep in mind that you don’t have to have puddles of water on the floor for it to suffer water damage. If the humidity in your home is too high, even that can be enough to damage your hardwood. Monitor the humidity in your home and take steps to reduce the humidity if it gets too high.
Prevent Sun Damage
Conversely to water damage, the sun can also damage your hardwood. This tends to happen because of exposure to the sun’s UV rays. Depending on the type of wood, the exposed portions could become lighter or darker. You may not even notice it until the damage has already been done and you move furniture to expose an area of the floor that hasn’t been exposed to the sun. You could install blinds and shades to reduce exposure, but many people find they prefer to have access to natural light and its benefits. Other options include window films that block UV rays and using wood finishes with UV blocking properties.
Refinishing
If you’ve been less than diligent in the upkeep of your hardwood floor, it may benefit from being refinished. Refinishing a hardwood floor involves completely removing the finish, repairing damaged areas, and then applying a new coat of finish. Depending on the damage you’re looking at, opting to refinish your floor could save you from having to replace it altogether. However, if you keep up on your regular maintenance and damage prevention, this isn’t something you should need to do much at all.
Properly maintaining a hardwood floor and protecting it from damage is an important responsibility for any homeowner who wants to keep their hardwood floor in good condition. To do so you’ll need to understand how to properly clean it and be aware of what could cause it damage. This will help you keep your hardwood floor looking clean and high quality for years to come.
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by Milcarsky's Staff | Mar 17, 2021 | How To's
Adding new tile can do wonders for your home’s design and resale value. While tiling a floor might look complicated, it can be straightforward so long as you follow basic advice. Once you are done reading, you will be prepared to replace your kitchen’s tile floor.
Remove the Existing Tiles
It is possible to perform a dustless tile removal yourself, though having the right tools and proper protective gear is an absolute must. Get a hammer and chisel or pry bar for your tools. Then you should locate a starting point in the floor such as a bare edge.
Use your tools to pry up the first tile square. The process from here should be fairly straightforward. Throw away the tile squares as you work on them. Make sure not to fill it up to high, or the bag may break or become too heavy to move.
Preparing the Floor
Now that you have pried the original tile floor up, you have to prepare the base floor. This will require a bit more elbow grease, but it is essential to make sure your new tile lasts a long time. Take care to clean any residue on the base floor.
That’s not all you need to do, however. Since you won’t get a better opportunity to inspect the base floor, make sure it is sturdy and doesn’t need replacing. You should also remove any nails that are sticking out of the floor. You want the base floor as smooth as possible for your new installation. This is arguably the most important part of the entire process.
Laying the New Tile
Now for the fun part. Gather the new pieces of tile from your storage, and get ready to lay them down. Make sure you bought enough tile for the job. To do this, measure your kitchen’s width and length to get an estimate (buy a little extra just in case).
Just like you did when removing your old tile, select an effective starting point for laying down the new tile. Depending on the brand you bought, you may need to apply mortar and insulation. When it’s all set down, apply grout, and wait roughly 20 minutes. Then apply a sealant to the edges of the tile.
Voila! You have an excellent starting point for installing your new tile floor. Make sure you choose a tile that will age well and that complements your appliances, countertops, and tables. It not only will look great, but it will feel good too.
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by Milcarsky's Staff | Jan 22, 2021 | Design
Countertops are an overlooked potion of the home that can contribute so much to the look, feel, and efficacy of your kitchen. However, it is critical that you do your research before bringing in a construction team. Here are several things you should consider as you design your countertops.
What Materials You Use
Fortunately, there are many different countertop materials to choose from. The material you choose should reflect your priorities. While some materials are prized for their eco-friendliness or protection against heat, others are great for their protection against stains or budget-friendliness.
If you are looking for a cheaper option, laminate may be right for you. It can be stylish, but it also can protect against heat and stain damage. However, you won’t want to ever cut directly onto laminate, or you’ll be left with permanent groves. A slightly more expensive—but great—option would be quartz. Quartz can give the appearance of a marble or granite countertop, but tends to be much more durable. If you want a bolder look, you could always go for recycled glass—a fun, eco-friendly (but not as durable) option.
How Much Space You Need
When you are working with counter space, you should try to maximize it as much as possible. Maximizing your space doesn’t mean less countertop, but it should mean a more efficient use of your countertop. The way your map out your kitchen and counter space should be based upon your needs and cooking habits.
For example, if you share your home with your family, you may need to arrange your counter space in a very purposeful way. For example, a lack of space can cause problems in a kitchen, especially if you have children. Or, if you are a culinary guru or bake as a hobby, you may want an island or extended counter space for ingredient preparation.
Best Color Combinations
Nobody wants to spend money on new countertops before realizing that their color choice is incompatible with their flooring, backsplash, or cabinet colors. You could say that color is nearly as important as the materials you choose for your countertops. To create a cohesive kitchen color palette, decide what kind of style you are going for. It is recommended that you stick with neutral colors like black, brown, white, gray, or beige, and then pair it with more vibrant accessories.
Whether you are looking for increased counter space, or just need a change of scenery in the kitchen, it is important to plan and design your new countertops carefully. Don’t forget to research the pros and cons of different materials, as well as consider color combinations and space. In doing so, you will be one step closer to achieving the kitchen of your dreams.
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by Milcarsky's Staff | Sep 1, 2020 | Design
The kitchen is the center of the home, but a generic kitchen doesn’t feel very homey. You want your kitchen to feel unique to you. But how do you do that?
Appliances
One way to make your kitchen unique to you is to buy appliances that you like. These appliances can all be a single color, or your kitchen could have a spectrum of color in its appliances such as having a red toaster, a blue microwave, and a white refrigerator for a red-white-blue feel. Your appliances should also be easily accessible to you. If you need a coffee maker daily, but never use a mixer, your coffee maker will be in a prominent place on your countertop and a mixer will be gone or out of sight.
Cabinets
You also want to make your cabinets feel unique to you. This could be the color, the design, even the doorknobs of the cabinets. You can repaint all the cabinets any color you choose. You can add your preferred type of doorknobs to the outside of the cabinets. You can even change the location of the cabinets to better fit your style. Redoing the cabinetry can also add value to your home. For example, some cabinet features can add up to 20 percent more value.
Decorations
Another way to express your personality and make your kitchen unique is to decorate it. Decorations could include a theme or be knick-knacks from your childhood home. For example, if you like the style of a farm kitchen, you could have a rooster wall piece, and egg-shaped salt and pepper shakers. You could also include a barn door that slides out to cover the pantry. You can add wallpaper or even just pictures on the walls. You can also add curtains unique to you. If you want to put in the extra effort, you can also repaint your entire kitchen to express your personality. If the kitchen started off as a pale green and you want to paint it a bright yellow, go ahead. Make your kitchen yours.
The kitchen is the heart of the home. It is a place where people want to come and gather, and it’s also a place where you’ll spend a lot of time. So take the effort and make your kitchen feel like it is the only kitchen in the world that is well and truly yours.
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by Milcarsky's Staff | Jun 4, 2020 | How To's
Painting or repainting your kitchen walls can be an exciting and fun process. However, there are many questions you have to ask yourself and many tough decisions to make before you can start actually painting.
Choosing a Type of Paint
Choosing a type of paint can be tricky, and color is not the only factor to take into account—for example, you can choose oil-based or latex paint. Used for both interior and exterior painting projects, latex paint is a popular option. It is easy to work with and dries quickly—a good option for painting walls and ceilings. Oil-based paint yellows over time and is worse for the environment. However, oil-based paint can be more durable than latex paint. Both kinds of paint come with pros and cons; weigh the positives and negatives when deciding which type of paint to use for your project.
Choosing a Finish
Next, you need to choose a finish. There are many types of finishes which work well for interior walls, but not all work equally well for kitchen walls. For example, although a flat finish is great for some interior rooms, it does not clean well and is therefore not ideal for kitchens or bathrooms. Semi-gloss and high-gloss finishes tend to be better options for kitchens because they are easier to clean.
Semi-gloss and high-gloss finishes have higher sheen levels. The higher the sheen level, the higher the shine and durability. However, durability does come with costs: for example, gloss finishes reflect light, which can accentuate even minor flaws in the paint.
Coordinating Colors
Another important thing to consider when choosing your new paint is coordinating colors between the cabinets, countertops, finishings, flooring, and walls. It could be a good idea to stick to a specific color scheme for the entirety of the room. Choose multiple paint colors, then test them on the walls of your kitchen in order to see how different colors and shades go together with the rest of your room. In addition, consider whether or not each color works well with the color of adjacent rooms.
Selecting a new paint for your kitchen walls can be fun, but it can also be complicated. If you follow these steps and keep in mind the benefits of different kinds of paint, different finishes, and coordinating colors, the process will become far less complex. Choosing the right paint can be a breeze.
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by Milcarsky's Staff | May 5, 2020 | Appliances, Design
Renovating your kitchen is often the last project to tackle in a house. Unfortunately, because the kitchen is the room that works hardest in your home, this renovation is often the most disruptive. Before you tackle this area, it’s important to consider what you need from the space now and what you’ll need in the future.
Determine the Layout
The wide variety in kitchen cabinet styles and countertop options means that you can create any number of designs for your kitchen. Islands can be movable or permanently placed, and some appliances such as dishwashers can be portable or countertop. Before you tear into any kitchen renovation, spend some time in the space determining the footprint or layout. Consider work triangles. For example, raw ingredients come from one corner of the triangle (refrigerator), and tools are collected from another corner (cabinet). Cooking is finally accomplished at the third corner (stove).
Don’t Forget the Walls
Drywall can get pretty beat up when you’re moving large appliances around. When stripping the walls, check for any potential damages to the drywall in order to prevent further problems down the road. Additionally, if you have to open any walls to run power, water or gas lines, you may need to patch or repair the sheetrock before setting cabinets and appliances in place. If you do end up opening a wall and running new utilities, take photos of the changes for future reference before you seal up the opening. Provide these images to the new owners when you sell the house.
Work Slowly
If you’re doing any of the work yourself, do your best to work in a slow, organized fashion. You can save money on the project by doing your own demolition but not if you hurt your back moving the refrigerator. Reduce lifting requirements for cabinets by undoing the hardware and removing the doors. Before you pull the screws, set a brace or a block under the cabinet so you can lower the casing gently. Keep your walking paths clear of debris, tools and supplies. Finally, always wear your safety gear to protect yourself.
Renovating can be exciting. If you have a clear vision of how the new space will work and how much easier cooking and cleanup will be when you’re done, your renovation will be worth the hassle, mess and disruption. Be certain to spend a lot of time in the space determining the best working layout before you get started.
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